Another contestant has been edited out of the latest series of MasterChef after asking to be removed from the programme, the BBC has confirmed. The move follows the earlier removal of Sarah Shafi, who had said the show should not be broadcast following allegations made against presenters Gregg Wallace and John Torode.
Banijay, the production company behind the cooking contest, confirmed to the BBC that a second contestant had asked to be edited out. A spokesperson said: 'One other contributor decided that given recent events they would like not to be included. We have of course accepted their wishes and edited them out of the show.'
The series was filmed before Wallace and Torode were sacked. Wallace was dropped by the BBC after an independent report substantiated 45 allegations against him, including claims of inappropriate sexual language and one incident of unwelcome physical contact. Torode was also dropped after he said he was the subject of a substantiated complaint over the use of racist language, which he believes never happened.
The BBC has defended its decision to broadcast the series, saying it was 'the right thing' to do for the amateur chefs who took part. The programme had already been edited to reduce the prominence of Wallace and Torode and to remove Shafi. It has now been edited further to remove another contestant, who has asked not to be identified.
The broadcaster is facing fresh criticism on social media about the decision, amid speculation about whether it would continue if more contestants asked to be removed. In a statement last month, the BBC said: 'This has not been an easy decision in the circumstances and we appreciate not everyone will agree with it.'
